The Buccaneers dropped to 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the South Zone.
The tight ballgame was played less than 48 hours after the two teams combined for 37 runs in a wild 22-15 come-from-behind for the Bucs on Tuesday in Brenham, Texas.
This time around, Alvin needed a two-out, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to top Blinn.
“We knew going into today we were going to get their best shot after winning the opener the way we did,” Bucs head coach Dusty Hart said. “Alvin did a pretty good job of controlling us. We had multiple opportunities to get some big hits and put some pressure on them, but we didn’t do a very good job offensively. We left some guys on base in key moments and that hurt us.”
The Dolphins built a 2-0 lead with solo runs in the second and third frames before Blinn got going in the fourth. Sophomore Tate Bethel walked with the bases loaded to make it 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, freshman Luke Smith doubled with one out before crossing the plate on freshman Marshall Lipsey‘s two-out single.
The Bucs finished with eight hits, with sophomore Ian Collier enjoying a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a double. Freshman Shane Martin had two hits.
On the mound, freshman Shane Connell made his first collegiate start and lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Freshman relief pitcher Cody Pfeffer fanned seven in 4 1/3 frames of relief. He gave up an earned run on three hits with a walk. Bethel came on with two outs in the ninth and surrendered the game-winning hit.
Blinn will finish its region set with Alvin when the two teams play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
